Implement-handle



UNITED STAT P T I F Q'E.

IMrLEMEN'r-HANDL Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan 8, 1920.

Application filed May 13, 1919. Serial o. 296,818.

' Handles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to handles or handholds for agriculturalimplements, tools, utensils or the like and consists of an improvedmethod of retaining grip members upon a handle frame. The object of theinvention is to provide flange-like means preventing the separation ofthe grips from the handle and to avoid, as much as possible,

reliance upon rivets, screws, etc., for maintaining the assembly.

I have illustrated my invention as applied to the D of an implementhandle stem such as a shovel or pickax and 'in the accompanying drawingsFigure 1 is a front elevation of the handle grip or D showing a smallportion of the handle stem to the opposite end of which the shovel orother tool is attached; Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section on line2-2 of Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 is an end view of the D.

The D is formed of metal either cast or forged and its base 1 isprovided with a socket 2 to receive the end of the handle stem 3 and besecured thereto by rivets or other fastenings 4. Integral with base 1are the diverging curved sides 5 spaced apart at their outer ends andthere connected and braced by a flat transverse .rib 6, the D thusterminating in a substantially I shaped section as best shown in Fig. 3.On opposite sides of rib 6 are half round strips 7 of wood or othernon-conducting material extending between sides 5 and secured to rib 6by screws or rivets 8.

Sides 5 are undercut near their outer end as indicated at 9 in Fig. 3.The ends of strips 7 are shaped to fit this undercut and also therelative taper of sides 5. As a result of the tapered and undercut Dsurfaces and the corresponding shaping of the ends of strips 7 thelatter can only be inserted from the top of the D and when assembledtherewith are held against downward, longitudinal or transversemovement, leaving only a possible upward movement for the fastenings 8to resist. Such construction prevents twisting or other undesirablemovement of strips 7 and safeguards the latter against splitting andundue wear.

In the usual handle, grip members are attached by rivetsand most of'thetwisting or sliding tendencies of the grips must 'be withstood by therivets. The rivets are of small diameter, bend easily and their smallarea wears away the sides of the holes in the grip members which allowsundesirable free play of the latter. The grips often separate from thebase by slipping over the rivet heads after wear or shrinkage. Thesedisadvantages are removed in my construction which has'a wide range ofusefulness and is not limitedto the type of handle illustrated.

1. In a handle, a frame having a plane surface and flanges formingdihedral angles opposed to each other and having converging edges, saidsurface and flanges being adapted to receive a grip member and retainsame against movement in all directions except one.

2. In a handle, a frame with surfaces forming opposed, dihedral anglesand-pro-' vided with a grip member held by said sur- 1 faces againstmovement in a plane traversing said surfaces; said angles having theirrespective edges converged to hold said grip members against movementalong same in one direction.

3. A hand hold including spaced sides, a brace uniting said sides; saidsides converging toward eachother and recessed to form acute angles withsaid brace, and grip members secured to said brace and fitting betweensaid converging sides and in said acute angles.

4. In a handle, a grip member having its ends converging across thewidth of the member and beveled across the thickness of the member, aframe to which said member is secured and which is provided with flangesconverging and recessed to. fit the converging and beveled ends of sa1dmember.

5. In an implement handle, a base adapted 1 to be attached'to a handlestem, spaced sides extending divergingly from said base and from eachother, a brace uniting said sides; said sides forming acute angles withsaid brace, and grip members secured to said brace and having endsfitting between said converging sides and in said angles.

6. In a hand hold, a socket adapted to transverse flanges at oppositeends of said member, converging in thedirection of the receive animplement end of the handle stem, integral spaced sides extending fromsaid socket, anintegral brace spaced from said socket and uniting saidsides, said sides being recessed to form acute angles with said braceand converging toward each other, and grip members secured to said braceand fitting between said converging sides and in said acute angles.

7 In a handle, a longitudinal member,

and a grip member adjacent said longitudi- 15 nal member and having itsends converged to engage said flanges and each end beveled to fit in theangle between one of said flanges and said member.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto 20 subscribed my hand this 1919. V

' e JOSEPH v; SMITH.

6th day of May,

